This article was originally posted Dec.14, 2015. It has been updated.
By EMS1 Staff
In addition to quality time spent with loved ones, Christmas songs, movies, decorations and meals make up the traditions that make Christmas a favorite holiday for many.
Whether you’re watching “A Christmas story,” “It’s a wonderful life” or “National Lampoon’s Christmas vacation;"
listening to Bing Crosby crooning “White Christmas” or Mariah Carey singing “All I want for Christmas is you;" or preparing your favorite holiday dish, timeless Christmas traditions can put you in a festive mood.
Through the years, EMS1 has published many Christmas-themed articles. Reading and re-reading the articles in this EMS Christmas collection has become a holiday tradition for many EMTs and paramedics. These articles might remind you of Christmas-past or be a new gift as you care for your community during the holiday season.
Silent night: A paramedic Christmas story
This holiday favorite, an excerpt from Kelly Grayson’s book “A Paramedic’s Story: Life, Death, and Everything in Between,” recounts a heartfelt Christmas Eve conversation about why we do what we do.
Who better than EMS to reflect the spirit of the season?
The only other person that has better access to every home on earth than EMS is the big man in the red suit. Unlike that guy, instead of bringing toys and trinkets, EMS providers bring the gift of life, calm people when they are afraid, help them when they are sick, and treat them when they are injured. It is a tall task, but find out why Michael Morse believes it is one that EMS providers are perfectly capable of performing. Read more holiday tales from Morse in his book “Captain Scrooge and other Holiday tales: stories about life during the holidays as told by a first responder.”
Christmas perspective for the rumpled angels of EMS
Kelly Grayson reminds us that the Christmas spirit is all around us. Cops, EMTs, firefighters and nurses bring hope to others just by showing up. We are the rumpled angels who give our best to help people, regardless of their age, creed, race, religion or social standing.
|More Deck the halls to save a life: A guide to CPR-friendly Christmas songs
For EMS providers, the holidays can be the hardest time of the year
The sights and sounds of the holiday season bring a rush of excitement, anticipation, cheerfulness and goodwill. But for many first responders, the opposite is all too real. Stress, exhaustion, financial pressures and a front row seat to the pain, suffering and heartbreak experienced by patients and their families can take an even heavier toll than usual this time of year. When an EMS provider can become the light in the darkness, the voice of reassurance, and the calm in the storm then Nancy Magee believes volunteering can become its own reward.
|More: Can first responders really enjoy the holiday season?
Ask about Christmas memories during an in-between moment
Asking a patient a single question about a favorite Christmas memory or gift can unlock memories that will distract your patient from their current pain – and fill your day. Ask each of your patients a simple question this holiday season.
Warming up your community: 8 steps to hosting a local coat drive
The holiday season, from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, creates a lot of opportunities for EMS agencies to connect with their community. Use a toy drive, coat or food collection, lights around the station, reuniting a family for a holiday visit or other holiday-themed event as a positive PR opportunity for your agency.
Working on holidays is often a competing mix of joys and frustrations. We appreciate all of you who sacrifice time with your families to serve our communities. Thank you.
